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The writing may have appeared to be on the wall three months ago, but linebacker Manny Lawson didn’t officially become an ex-49er until he signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Bengals on Monday night.

Lawson’s exit, reported by ESPN, seemed to be foreshadowed when the Niners used the No. 7 overall pick in the draft to select Missouri’s Aldon Smith, who they hope will provide the type of pressure Lawson never consistently did.

Still, the Niners apparently still made a pitch to keep Lawson in San Francisco. ESPN reported that Lawson spent Monday night mulling whether to stay with the 49ers or sign elsewhere.

Lawson, a first-round pick in the 2006 draft, collected just 5.5 sacks and a torn ACL in his first three seasons in San Francisco before ranking fourth among NFC linebackers with 6.5 sacks in 2009.

But his breakout ’09 season didn’t move the 49ers to rework his five-year, $7.75 million rookie contract. Lawson responded by skipping last spring’s voluntary OTAs in a form of mild protest, but he failed to build on his 2009 season. Lawson finished with 59 tackles and 2.5 sacks, numbers that could have been more impressive if he’d remained on the field on third downs.

During a torrid four-game stretch last year, Lawson had two sacks, two forced fumbles and made a highlight-reel interception against the Raiders.

At the time, he spoke of being supremely motivated, presumably by the thought of earning far more than his 2010 base salary of $630,000.

“If you want something, you have to go out and get it,” Lawson said. “I think that’s where it’s at. I’m looking for something and I’m going to go out and get it.”

* Lawson will join cornerback Nate Clements in Cincinnati. Clements, released by the Niners last week, was signed by the Bengals on Saturday.

Schedule note: San Francisco visits Cincinnati on Sept. 25.

* Of San Francisco nine first-round picks since 2005, Lawson and Kentwan Balmer are the only the players no longer on the team.